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One of my favorite things to do is take road trips and discover antique shops. Every time I see an antique shop my heart skips a beat. I love walking into a shop and being amazed at every corner I turn. I’m always thrilled to see art and objects I’ve never seen before, or see striking antique textiles or quilts. To be honest, before I worked at CT I didn’t really pay that much attention to quilts, but now it’s almost one of the first things I spot. I immediately go up to it and feel it, and gaze at the fabric and the piecing. I love the “worn and laundered” quality of them. I try and imagine where it came from and who created such a wonderful piece.

(Antique Texas Star quilt. Looks like a king size. It was hanging from the second floor and immediately caught my eye!)

Besides noticing antique quilts, I’m also drawn to antique embroideries. Many of the embroideries I come across are framed as art to preserve the intricate handwork and detail that I’m sure took many long hours to complete. One day I’d love to have a gallery wall of just framed embroideries. I think that would be striking!

(Antique framed embroidery of an 18th Century lady of means.)

(Antique crewel embroidery on a velvet collar.)

Most of the time I wish I could buy just about everything I see, but sadly I can’t. So I just like to take my time really looking at everything with a fine tooth comb, that way I see all that is to be seen. And in doing so, I always become inspired. Whether a textile or quilt calls out to me, I absorb the feeling it evokes in me and my brain starts developing a million ideas. Thank goodness for iPhones, because I also make sure I walk around with my phone out so I can take photos along the way.

(Antique quilt with cotton solids and polk dots)

(Antique bold colored log cabin quilt. Everytime I look at this, I love it more and more!)

I’ve always had such a strong connection to the past and what came before us, and I don’t really believe art we see now as being very innovative or new, but rather that everything has been affected from the past and designs are merely reinvented to fit our aesthetics and our times. Rather than copy the past, I prefer to pay homage to it.

11 comments

Love it. It’s a passion/hobby. I’ve scored many treasures but the best treasure of all are those handed down. I have gorgeous embroidered ladies to assemble one day as well as quilt tops that will be quilted soon. I mostly search for textiles (quilt tops, tea towels, fabric, feedsacks) as well as BUTTONS! I love incorporating the old into “new.” That’s what I’ve been working on lately. And I have a couple of awesome cross stitch pieces that will be worked into bags. And yes, pay homage to the past instead of copying it. :o)

I hope that one of my quilts is around long enough to be considered an antique. It doesn’t have to be a prize winner to to be prized by a family member. I have a scrap quilt made by a great aunt and it is treasured in my home.

Love your story Jenni! I also love antiquing but gravitate to the dishes and glassware. I do of course take note of any quilts I see. Antiquing is something I do rarely now but after reading your post want to get back into it!